Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is famous for its intricate Gothic-style design and for its grandeur and aesthetic harmony. On a first visit, many of the little details are easy to miss, so here is a guide to help you focus your visit and understand the basics of Gothic architecture.
The facade
The iconic facade of Notre Dame is recognized around the world, as it ends up being the most important in postcards and travel guides. There is a reason for this: the façade displays a distinctive harmony of design and represents a level of detailed craftsmanship that perhaps no longer exists in contemporary architecture.
From the vast Notre Dame square , designed by Haussmann in the 19th century, you can get a breathtaking view of the three elaborately decorated façade portals. Although the portals were conceived in the 13th century, much of the statues and sculptures were destroyed and later replicated. Also, keep in mind that the portals are not completely symmetrical. Perfect symmetry was not always considered important by medieval architects.
The left portal of the Virgin depicts the life of the Virgin Mary, as well as a coronation scene and an astrological calendar.
The central portal represents the Last Judgment in a kind of vertical triptych. The first and second panels show the resurrection of the dead, the judgment, Christ and the apostles. A reigning Christ crowns the scene.
The Portal de Saint-Anne on the right side features the oldest and best surviving statuette of Notre Dame (12th century) and depicts the Virgin Mary seated on a throne, the Christ child in her arms.
Above the portals is the gallery of kings , a series of 28 statues of the kings of Israel. The statues are replicas: the originals were beheaded during the revolution and can be seen in the nearby Medieval Museum of the Hôtel de Cluny.
Take a step back and take in the magnificent exteriors of the west rose window of Notre Dame . At 10 meters in diameter (32.8 feet), it was the largest rose window ever attempted when it was conceived. Look closely and you will see statues representing the biblical figures of Adam and Eve on the outer edge.
The final level of the façade before reaching the towers is the “Grand Gallery” that connects the two towers at their bases. Ferocious demons and birds decorate the great gallery, but they are not easily visible from the ground.
The towers of the cathedral
The imposing and ornate towers of Notre Dame became a legend thanks to the 19th century novelist Victor Hugo, who invented a hunchback named Quasimodo and made him inhabit the south tower in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”
The towers plunge 68 meters upward , offering remarkable views of the City Island, the Seine and the entire city. First, however, you will have to climb almost 400 stairs.
Once at the top, reward yourself by admiring statues of grimacing demons and menacing scavengers. The south tower houses Notre Dame’s infamous 13-ton bell. You can also admire the details of the magnificent Notre Dame spire, destroyed during the revolution and restored by Viollet-le-Duc.
North, south and back sides of the cathedral
Often neglected by visitors, Notre Dame’s north, south, and rear facades offer unique and poetic perspectives on the cathedral.
The Northside (around the left from the main facade) features a portal with an impressive 13th century statue of the Virgin Mary. Unfortunately, the Christ child you are holding was beheaded by 18th century revolutionaries and was never restored.
The rear façade is possibly as beautiful as the main façade and dramatically shows the flying buttresses of Notre Dame and its decidedly Gothic spire.
Finally, the south side (around the right from the main façade) features the Portal Saint-Etienne , depicting the life and works of the saint of the same name and displaying elaborate sculptures. However, a door closes this side of the cathedral, which makes the photos less interesting.
Inside: the magnificent interior
Medieval architects represented their idea of human earthiness in relation to the sky through structures that were both grand and ethereal, and the interior of Notre Dame achieves exactly this. The cathedral’s long halls, vaulted ceilings, and soft light filtered through intricate stained glass windows help us understand the medieval perspective on humanity and divinity. There is no access to the upper levels of the cathedral, forcing visitors to stay on the ground, looking up. The experience is impressive, especially on a first visit.
The three stained glass rose windows of the cathedral are the outstanding feature of the interior. Two are located on the transept: the north rose window dates from the 13th century and is widely regarded as the most impressive. It represents figures from the Old Testament that surround the Virgin Mary. The south rose window, meanwhile, represents Christ surrounded by saints and angels. The more modern stained glass , dating from 1965, are also visible around the cathedral.
Notre Dame’s organs were restored in the 1990s and are among the largest in France. Try visiting during a mass to witness amazing acoustics.
The choir includes a 14th century screen portraying the biblical Last Supper. Here you will also find a statue of the Virgin and the Christ child, as well as funerary monuments to religious figures.
Near the rear, the Notre Dame hoard includes precious objects, such as crosses and crowns, made of gold and other materials.
Countless processions and historical moments took place inside the cathedral, including the coronation of Henry VI, Mary Stuart, and Emperor Napoleon I.
Want to learn more? Visit the archaeological crypt
After completing your visit to the cathedral, you can dig deeper by visiting the archaeological crypt at Notre-Dame. Here you can discover parts of the medieval wall that once surrounded Paris, and learn about the Gallo-Roman and early Christian places of worship that once stood at the foundations of Notre Dame.
Located just north of Paris, the magnificent St-Denis Cathedral Basilica was built even before Notre Dame and is home to an astonishing necropolis that houses reclining effigies and tombs of dozens of French kings, queens, and royal figures as well like the crypt of the famous eponymous saint himself. Interestingly, many tourists never hear about St-Denis, so be sure to set aside time for a day trip from Paris there.
